Tumour-infiltrating bystander CD8+ T cells activated by IL-15 contribute to tumour control in non-small cell lung cancer

Thorax ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. thoraxjnl-2021-217001
Author(s):  
Galam Leem ◽  
Minwoo Jeon ◽  
Kun Woo Kim ◽  
Seongju Jeong ◽  
Seong Jin Choi ◽  
...  

BackgroundTumour-unrelated, virus-specific bystander CD8+ T cells were recently shown to be abundant among tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). However, their roles in tumour immunity have not been elucidated yet.MethodsWe studied the characteristics of bystander CD8+ TILs from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues (N=66) and their activation by interleukin (IL)-15 to repurpose them for tumour immunotherapy.ResultsWe show that bystander CD8+ TILs specific to various viruses are present in human NSCLC tissues. We stimulated CD8+ TILs ex vivo using IL-15 without cognate antigens and found that IL-15 treatment upregulated NKG2D expression on CD8+ TILs, resulting in NKG2D-dependent production of interferon (IFN)-γ (p=0.0006). Finally, we tested whether IL-15 treatment can control tumour growth in a murine NSCLC model with or without a history of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection. IL-15 treatment reduced the number of tumour nodules in the lung only in mice with MCMV infection (p=0.0037). We confirmed that MCMV-specific bystander CD8+ TILs produced interferon (IFN)-γ after IL-15 treatment, and that IL-15 treatment in MCMV-infected mice upregulated tumour necrosis factor-α and IFN-γ responsive genes in tumour microenvironment.ConclusionThus, the study demonstrates that bystander CD8+ TILs can be repurposed by IL-15 for tumour immunotherapy.

Author(s):  
M. Alper Kursunel ◽  
Ekim Z. Taskiran ◽  
Ece Tavukcuoglu ◽  
Hamdullah Yanik ◽  
Funda Demirag ◽  
...  

AbstractSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive tumor type with early dissemination and distant metastasis capacity. Even though optimal chemotherapy responses are observed initially in many patients, therapy resistance is almost inevitable. Accordingly, SCLC has been regarded as an archetype for cancer stem cell (CSC) dynamics. To determine the immune-modulatory influence of CSC in SCLC, this study focused on the characterization of CD44+CD90+ CSC-like subpopulations in SCLC. These cells displayed mesenchymal properties, differentiated into different lineages and further contributed to CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses. The interaction between CD44+CD90+ CSC-like cells and T cells led to the upregulation of checkpoint molecules PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG3. In the patient-derived lymph nodes, CD44+ SCLC metastases were also observed with T cells expressing PD-1, TIM-3, or LAG3. Proliferation and IFN-γ expression capacity of TIM-3 and LAG3 co-expressing CTLs are adversely affected over long-time co-culture with CD44+CD90+ CSC-like cells. Moreover, especially through IFN-γ secreted by the T cells, the CSC-like SCLC cells highly expressed PD-L1 and PD-L2. Upon a second encounter with immune-experienced, IFN-γ-stimulated CSC-like SCLC cells, both cytotoxic and proliferation capacities of T cells were hampered. In conclusion, our data provide evidence for the superior potential of the SCLC cells with stem-like and mesenchymal properties to gain immune regulatory capacities and cope with cytotoxic T cell responses. With their high metastatic and immune-modulatory assets, the CSC subpopulation in SCLC may serve as a preferential target for checkpoint blockade immunotherapy .


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3828
Author(s):  
Anello Marcello Poma ◽  
Rossella Bruno ◽  
Iacopo Pietrini ◽  
Greta Alì ◽  
Giulia Pasquini ◽  
...  

Pembrolizumab has been approved as first-line treatment for advanced Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with tumors expressing PD-L1 and in the absence of other targetable alterations. However, not all patients that meet these criteria have a durable benefit. In this monocentric study, we aimed at refining the selection of patients based on the expression of immune genes. Forty-six consecutive advanced NSCLC patients treated with pembrolizumab in first-line setting were enrolled. The expression levels of 770 genes involved in the regulation of the immune system was analysed by the nanoString system. PD-L1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Patients with durable clinical benefit had a greater infiltration of cytotoxic cells, exhausted CD8, B-cells, CD45, T-cells, CD8 T-cells and NK cells. Immune cell scores such as CD8 T-cell and NK cell were good predictors of durable response with an AUC of 0.82. Among the immune cell markers, XCL1/2 showed the better performance in predicting durable benefit to pembrolizumab, with an AUC of 0.85. Additionally, CD8A, CD8B and EOMES showed a high specificity (>0.86) in identifying patients with a good response to treatment. In the same series, PD-L1 expression levels had an AUC of 0.61. The characterization of tumor microenvironment, even with the use of single markers, can improve patients’ selection for pembrolizumab treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A303-A303
Author(s):  
George Blumenschein ◽  
Siddhartha Devarakonda ◽  
Melissa Johnson ◽  
Victor Moreno ◽  
Justin Gainor ◽  
...  

BackgroundADP-A2M10 SPEAR T-cells are genetically engineered autologous T-cells that express a high affinity MAGE-A10-specific T-cell receptor targeting MAGE-A10+tumors in the context of HLA-A*02. This trial is now complete (NCT02592577).MethodsThis first-in-human dose escalation trial utilized a modified 3+3 design to evaluate safety and antitumor activity. Eligible patients (pts) were HLA-A*02+ with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) expressing MAGE-A10. Pts underwent apheresis; T-cells were isolated, transduced with a lentiviral vector containing the TCR targeting MAGE-A10, and expanded. Pts underwent lymphodepletion (LD) with varying doses/schedules of fludarabine (Flu) and cyclophosphamide (Cy) prior to receiving ADP-A2M10. ADP-A2M10 was administered at Dose Level (DL) 1= 0.1×109, DL2 0.5–1.2×109, and DL3/Expansion= 1.2–15×109 transduced cells.ResultsAs of Jan 10, 2020, 11 pts (6 male/5 female) with NSCLC (3 squamous cell, 7 adenocarcinoma, 1 adenosquamous) were treated. Five, 3 and 3 pts received cells at DL1, DL2, and DL3/Expansion, respectively. The most frequently reported adverse events ≥ Grade 3 were lymphopenia (11), leukopenia (9), neutropenia (8), anemia (6), thrombocytopenia (5), and hyponatremia (5). Three pts reported CRS (Grades 1, 2, and 4, respectively). One pt received the highest dose of LD (Flu 30 mg/m2 Day 1 4 and Cy 1800 mg/m2 Day 1–2) prior to a second infusion and had a partial response (PR). This pt subsequently developed aplastic anemia and died. Responses included: 1 pt – PR, 3 pts - stable disease, 2 pts – progressive disease, 1 pt - too early to determine, 4 pts - off-study prior to tumor assessment. SPEAR T-cells were detectable in peripheral blood from pts at each dose level, and in tumor tissue from pts at DL1 and DL3.ConclusionsADP-A2M10 SPEAR T-cells have shown acceptable safety and no evidence of toxicity related to off-target binding or alloreactivity. Given the minimal antitumor activity and the discovery that MAGE-A10 expression frequently overlaps with MAGE-A4 expression, the clinical program has closed. Several trials with SPEAR T-cells targeting MAGE-A4 are ongoing (https://bit.ly/35htsZK).Trial RegistrationNCT02592577Ethics ApprovalThe trial was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on Harmonization Good Clinical Practice guidelines and was approved by local authorities. An independent ethics committee or institutional review board approved the clinical protocol at each participating center. All the patients provided written informed consent before study entry.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A582-A582
Author(s):  
Asma Khanniche ◽  
Ying Wang

BackgroundNon small cell lung cancer is one of the cancer types where Immune checkpoint blockade has demonstrated unprecedented clinical efficiency. However, only a fraction of patients benefit from such therapy; factors determining this response are yet to be elucidated. Here, we investigated whether the differentiation status of circulating CD8 T cells might be associated with outcome of PD1 blockade therapy in NSCLC.MethodsWe used multi-parameter flow cytometry to study CD8 T cell differentiation states in NSCLC patients at baseline and to examine the effects of blocking the PD1/PDL1 pathway on those cells.ResultsWe found that responders to PD1 blockade therapy has more peripheral PD1+ CD8 T cells with an early-like differentiated status at baseline and that this phenotype is associated with longer survival. Moreover, PD1 blockade induced reinvigoration is mostly observed in cells with this with an early-like differentiated status.ConclusionsAn early like differentiation status of peripheral CD8 T cells is associated with favorable outcome of PD1 blockade immunotherapy


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e001302
Author(s):  
Suchita Pakkala ◽  
Kristin Higgins ◽  
Zhengjia Chen ◽  
Gabriel Sica ◽  
Conor Steuer ◽  
...  

BackgroundImmune checkpoint blockade (ICB) targeting programmed cell death protein 1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 has achieved modest clinical activity as salvage therapy in relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We conducted this signal-finding study to assess the efficacy of ICB with or without radiation in relapsed SCLC.MethodsPatients with relapsed SCLC and ≤2 previous lines of therapy were randomized to (1) arm A: durvalumab (D) 1500 mg/tremelimumab (T) 75 mg (intravenously every 4 weeks without stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)) or (2) arm B: immune-sensitizing SBRT to one selected tumor site (9 Gy × 3 fractions) followed by D/T. Treatment continued until progression or a maximum of 12 months. The co-primary endpoints of the study were overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). We evaluated circulating lymphocyte repertoire in serial peripheral blood samples and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from on-treatment biopsies as pharmacodynamic markers.ResultsEighteen patients were randomized to arms A and B (n=9 each): median age 70 years; 41.2% women. The median PFS and ORR were 2.1 months and 0% in arm A and 3.3 months and 28.6% in arm B. The median overall survival (OS) was 2.8 months in arm A and 5.7 months in arm B (p=0.3772). Pooled efficacy of D/T±SBRT in 15 Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) evaluable patients across both arms showed the best ORR in terms of partial response in 13.3%, stable disease in 26.6% and progressive disease in 60.0%; the overall median PFS and OS were 2.76 and 3.9 months. The most common adverse events were grade 1 fatigue (66%) and grade 1 elevated amylase (56%) in arm A, and grade 1 fatigue (56%) and pain (44%) in arm B. There was a significant increase in activated CD8(+)ICOS+ T cells (p=0.048) and a reduction in naïve T cells (p=0.0454) in peripheral blood following treatment, along with a significant amount of activated CD8+ICOS+ T cells in TILs from responders.ConclusionsThe D/T combination with and without SBRT was safe but did not show sufficient efficacy signal in relapsed SCLC. Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte and TILs were consistent with an immunologic response.Trial registration numberNCT02701400.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Yang ◽  
Gaopei Meng

Abstract In order to optimize patient-tailored chemotherapy, a non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-liver metastasis patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) model is developed. Computed tomography (CT)-guided NSCLC percutaneous biopsy was subcutaneously inoculated into the flank of non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) female mice (PDTX F1) and allowed to reach 500 mm3 volume. Then, the tumors were re-transplanted into Balb/c nude mice and liver metastasis was confirmed (PDTX F2), which were further assigned into doxorubicin (DOX), docetaxel (DTX), and non-treatment control group. H&E staining and Keratin 20 (CK20) staining were applied to determine the consistency of PDTX models and primary tumors. Tumor growth curve, body weight, and the expression of p65 nuclear factor (NF)-κB and the secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ were investigated. The successive transplant procedure can induce the NSCLC-liver metastasis PDTX model, and morphological and structural characteristics of PDTX models (F2) were in accordance with primary tumors. DOX and DTX could delay tumor growth, activate the NF-κB pathway, and promote IFN-γ secretion in the PDTX models. The NSCLC-liver metastasis PDTX model is established and provides a powerful mean to assess chemotherapeutic efficacy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 361-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziming Hu ◽  
Xiaohu Zheng ◽  
Defeng Jiao ◽  
Yonggang Zhou ◽  
Rui Sun ◽  
...  

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